Editing Shadow of Intent

{{Title|''Shadow of Intent''}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{Disambig header|the assault carrier|the novella|Halo: Shadow of Intent}}
{{Infobox/Ships
|name            = ''Shadow of Intent''
|image           = [[File:HTMCC-H3 ShadowOfIntent.png|300px]]
|caption         = ''Shadow of Intent'' at Installation 00
|modules         = 
{{Infobox/Ships/Individual
|country              = [[Swords of Sanghelios]]
|country flag         = {{Icon|SoS}}
|name                 = <!--The ship's name, sans any prefixes-->
|class                = {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}}{{Ref/Site|Id=universe|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Shadow of Intent|D=21|M=07|Y=2021|LocalArchive=https://archives.halopedia.org/waypoint/www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/shadow-of-intent.html}} 
|namesake             = <!--The ship's namesake, if any-->
|identification       = <!--The ship's hull code-->
|operator             = {{Icon|SoS}} [[Swords of Sanghelios]]
|manufacturer         = [[Lathe of the Enlightened]], [[Song of Victory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Warfleet|HWF|Section=Shadow of Intent|Page=70-71}}
|architect            = *[[Prophet of Expediency|Prophet of Expediency Giehel Vange]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*[[Ministry of Sacral Assembly|Vice-Minister of Sacral Assembly]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|laid down            = 
|launched             = 
|commissioned         = c. [[2135]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|decommissioned       = 
|fate                 = 
|status               = <!--The current status of the ship if it is still active, and one is known-->
|captains             = [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]{{Ref/Book|Id=enc284|Enc11|Page=284-285}}
|ai                   = 
|motto                = 
|badge                = 
}}
|hide-characteristics=<!--leave blank unless you want to hide the characteristics section header-->
|nocollapse      = <!--leave blank unless you want to disable the show/hide functionality-->
|type            = [[Flagship]]{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|length          = {{Convert|5347|m|ft|sigfig=6|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|width           = {{Convert|2118|m|ft|sigfig=5|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|height          = {{Convert|746|m|ft|sigfig=5|sp=us}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}
|mass            = 2.7 billion metric tons{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|power           = 
|maneuver drive  = 3 ''Raphyus''-pattern [[repulsor engine]]s{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|slipspace drive = ''Primus''-pattern [[borer]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|crew            = <!--Describes crew counts only-->
|complement      = *3× [[Scarab|Scarab platforms]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*196× [[Wraith|Wraith mortar tanks]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*700× [[Ghost|Ghost scouts]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*44× [[Type-29 Shadow|Shadow transports]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|troops          = 40,000 warriors{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|hull            = *[[Nanolaminate hull plating]]{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}}
*[[Runic plating]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|shielding       = ''Tantalus''-pattern [[energy shielding|dispersal field generators]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|sensors         = <!--Describes sensors and whatnot-->
|ew              = <!--Describes electronic warfare capabilities-->
|armaments       = *1× [[Energy projector|''Infernus''-pattern superheavy excavation beam]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*2× [[Energy projector|''Urpeon''-pattern superheavy plasma lances]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*8× [[Energy projector|''Luxor''-pattern heavy plasma beam emitters]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*24× [[Plasma torpedo|''Mictix''-pattern heavy plasma torpedo silos]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*700× [[Pulse laser turret|''Ferriel''-pattern pulse lasers]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*Multiple [[Plasma cannon (starship)|plasma cannons]]{{Ref/Level|Id=The Covenant|H3|[[The Covenant (level)|The Covenant]]}}
|aircraft        = *250× [[Covenant drop pod|Insertion pods]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*44× [[Dextro Xur-pattern Spirit|Spirit]]/[[Kez'katu-pattern Phantom|Phantom dropships]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*600× [[Banshee|Banshee flyers]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*20× [[R'sisho-pattern Tick|Tick boarding craft]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*64× [[Seraph|Seraph strikecraft]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
*192× [[Elsedda-pattern Banshee|Banshee Fighter strikecraft]]{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}
|air facilities  = <!--Describes hangars and whatnot-->
}}

'''''Shadow of Intent''''' is a {{Pattern|Kerel|assault carrier}} of the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] formerly assigned to the [[Covenant fleet]]. Commanded by [[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]], it served as the [[flagship]] of the [[Fleet of Retribution]] at the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]] and the end of the [[Human-Covenant War]].{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=173}}{{Ref/Level|Id=Floodgate|H3|[[Floodgate]]}} The vessel then served the reformed Swords of Sanghelios following the [[Treaty of 2552|cessation of war]] with [[humanity]] in [[2553#March|March 2553]],{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} and is both feared and revered as a herald of the [[Thel 'Vadam|Arbiter's]] government.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}

==History==
===Pre-Covenant War===
The ''Shadow of Intent'' was originally designed by the [[Prophet of Expediency]] in conjunction with the [[Vice Minister of Sacral Assembly]] during the Third [[Ages of Discovery|Age of Discovery]] (circa. [[2135]]).{{Ref/Note|There are two contradictory references to the Ages of Discovery in ''Halo: Warfleet''. The entry for the ''Shadow of Intent'' states it was built during the Third Age of Discovery, circa 2135 in the human calendar, while the entry for the ''[[Ardent Prayer]]'' gives 2070 as the human date for the Twentieth Age of Discovery.}} The ship's construction was performed by the [[Lathe of the Enlightened]] at [[Song of Victory]].{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} Much of the ship's history was later lost following the [[Fall of High Charity]] and loss of Ministry records.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}

===Human-Covenant War===
During the [[Human-Covenant War]], the Unggoy [[Stolt]] joined the crew of the ''Shadow of Intent''. The ship's [[Sangheili Ranger]] complement were initially skeptical of the Unggoy, but eventually grew to respect him. During the war, the databases of ''Shadow of Intent'' concerning Sangheili colonial scientific surveys became outdated. Throughout the war, the carrier was the bane of many human and Covenant vessels alike, and was a prodigious troop carrier that played a key role in the ground invasions of many [[human colonies]].{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

====Battle of Installation 05====
{{Main|Fall of High Charity}}
At the dawn of the [[Great Schism]], shortly after the [[Sangheili]]'s betrayal by the [[Hierarchs]] and [[Jiralhanae]] on [[2552#November|November 3, 2552]], ''Shadow of Intent'' was attached to one of the Jiralhanae-led [[Covenant fleet]]s at [[High Charity]] when the [[Covenant]] holy city was at [[Installation 05]]. Under the control of the Jiralhanae, ''Shadow of Intent'' attacked the Sangheili fleets over High Charity as the Covenant civil war began. [[Special Operations Commander]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]] led a strike-force that boarded ''Shadow of Intent'' and seized control of the carrier.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} The damage taken during the hand-to-hand combat of these boarding actions was hastily sealed off and much left without full repair.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}} Becoming the [[flagship]] of 'Vadum's [[Fleet of Retribution]], ''Shadow of Intent'' was thereafter one of two [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carriers]] used against the Jiralhanae-led forces loyal to the [[San'Shyuum]], the other being ''[[Eternal Reward]]''. However, ''Eternal Reward'' was destroyed when the carrier was attacked by ships led by [[Prelate]] [[Tem'Bhetek]]'s ''[[Spear of Light]]''. ''Shadow of Intent'' led the blockade of High Charity, trading plasma torpedoes with San 'Shyuum-controlled vessels to prevent any ships from escaping the quarantine of the station. The loyalists had no vessels capable of matching ''Shadow of Intent'' in firepower and intended to overwhelm it with multiple cruisers once its support vessels had been eliminated, though this plan went awry following the emergence of the Flood. During the blockade, ''Shadow of Intent'' used its [[ventral beam]] to partially [[glass]] High Charity in an attempt to combat the Flood aboard it.{{Ref/Novel|Id=SOI|SoI}}

Following the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s escape to [[Earth]], most of the ships commanded by [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] remained near [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 05]] to quarantine the local [[Flood]] threat by [[glassing]] the surface.<ref>[[Eleventh Hour reports]]</ref> However, the infected {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} ''[[Indulgence of Conviction]]'' broke through the blockade and jumped to Earth. A [[battle group|portion]] of the Fleet of Retribution, consisting of ''Shadow of Intent'', at least one other assault carrier and at least fourteen battlecruisers, followed the Flood-controlled vessel to the human homeworld.{{Ref/Map|Id=heretic|H3|[[Heretic]]}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}{{Ref/Reuse|Floodgate}}{{Ref/Note|See the [[Fleet of Retribution#Notes|Fleet of Retribution's notes]]}}

====Battle for Earth====
{{Main|Outbreak on Earth}}
{{Quote|Hail humans, and take heed. This is the carrier ''Shadow of Intent''. Clear this sector while we deal with the Flood.|Rtas 'Vadum}}

The fleet arrived minutes after ''Indulgence of Conviction'', which crash-landed in the city of [[Voi]], [[Kenya]], which in turn occurred only moments after [[Truth's fleet]] passed through a nearby [[Excession|slipspace portal]] to the [[Forerunner]] facility known as [[Installation 00|the Ark]].{{Ref/Level|H3|[[The Storm]]}} Flood forms were dispersed across the city, quickly overrunning the local [[UNSC]] personnel. Shipmaster 'Vadum hailed the human troops, instructing them to evacuate as the ship landed [[Special Operations Sangheili|Special Operations forces]] into the ruins of Voi. Soon ''Shadow of Intent'' and the battlecruisers glassed the city and the surrounding region to prevent the Flood from spreading across Earth. 'Vadum would have glassed the entire planet were it not for the counsel of the Arbiter.{{Ref/Reuse|Floodgate}}

====Battle of Installation 00====
[[File:H3 - SoI Damaged.png|thumb|left|225px|''Shadow of Intent'' being hit by a fragment of High Charity.]]
{{Main|Battle of Installation 00|Battle of the Citadel}}
{{Quote|I will beat the Prophet's shield like a drum. By the time the barrier falls, he will beg for mercy.|Rtas 'Vadum}}
After a period of deliberation among the Sangheili and UNSC leaders, ''Shadow of Intent'' and the human [[Charon-class light frigate|frigate]] ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'' passed through the portal to the Ark. The Fleet of Retribution was immediately met by Truth's fleet as ''Forward Unto Dawn'' deployed troops to the installation's surface. The Sangheili forces soon emerged victorious despite their enemies' three-to-one numerical advantage.{{Ref/Reuse|The Covenant}}

''Shadow of Intent'' sent down soldiers, vehicles, and supplies to aid the human forces on the surface of the Ark following the victory in orbit. The ship then took part in a diversionary bombardment of the shield protecting the Ark's [[Installation 00 Citadel|Citadel]], the point from which the entire [[Halo Array]] could be fired.{{Ref/Reuse|The Covenant}}

When the shield was deactivated by a joint UNSC-Sangheili strike team, led by the [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan]] [[John-117]] and the Arbiter, ''Shadow of Intent'' moved in to destroy the Citadel. Before the carrier could get into position, however, the Flood-infested [[High Charity]] arrived via [[slipspace]] and crashed onto the surface of the Ark, shedding debris as it fell. A large fragment smashed through ''Shadow of Intent'' amidships and inflicted severe damage, knocking out all of the carrier's weapon systems. Despite the damage, the ship remained operational. Following Truth's assassination by the Arbiter, the ''Shadow of Intent'' evacuated the surviving Sangheili and human forces; only the Arbiter, John-117, the AI [[Cortana]], and [[Sergeant Major]] [[Avery Johnson]] remained behind to activate the newly discovered Halo [[Installation 08]], thereby defeating the Flood.{{Ref/Reuse|The Covenant}}

===Postwar===
[[File:Attend2.PNG|thumb|225px|''Shadow of Intent'' presides over the [[Voi Memorial]]'s commemoration prior to the ship's final departure from Earth.]]
''Shadow of Intent'' was repaired and refitted at a mobile shipyard on [[2552#December|December 30, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} Between February 28 and March 3, [[2553]], ''Shadow of Intent'' remained stationed on Earth for a diplomatic mission involving [[Thel 'Vadam|the Arbiter's]] attendance in the [[Voi Memorial]] service, held for those killed in the Human-Covenant War. After the memorial 'Vadum gave the Arbiter command of the vessel, whereupon the ship returned to [[Sanghelios]].{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}}<ref>''Halo 3'', Epilogue</ref> Even following its return to Sanghelios, ''Shadow of Intent'' continued to serve in many roles, and as such full repairs for damage incurred during the war with humanity and the Great Schism have been deferred. The deeper compartments of the ship have been sealed following damage sustained during [[Naval boarding|boarding]] actions taken during the Schism, with many more remaining inaccessible due to battle damage and damage control foam, entombing the corpses of those who died fighting aboard the ship years prior. The ship runs on a skeleton crew due to lack of manpower, including employing "consultants" from [[Venezia]] to help Sangheili [[artisan-armorer]]s crew the engineering deck.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}

====Attempted capture and later missions====
[[File:HM - SOI.jpg|thumb|left|[[Tem'Bhetek]] and [[Tul 'Juran]] dueling inside the ''Shadow of Intent's'' gravity lift bay in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''.]]
Following his taking command of the ship, Thel 'Vadam offered Rtas the mission to take the ''Shadow of Intent'' far away from Sanghelios, due to the increasing threat of [[Blooding Years|Sangheili civil war]]. By this time, ''Shadow of Intent'' was the only operational ''CAS''-class carrier in the Swords of Sanghelios fleet, and 'Vadam wanted the ship out of reach of allies whose loyalties were not as certain as 'Vadum's. 'Vadum took the ship and its crew to the frontiers of the former-Covenant territory in an attempt to find rest and recuperation after the war.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}} Between March 6 and August 24, 2553 ''Shadow of Intent'' was believed to be retrieving former Covenant long-range exploratory fleets.{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}}

At some point following August 2553{{Ref/Note|Following the end of the prelate's scheme, Rtas intended to take the ship out to hunt down the remaining San'Shyuum. Given that until August 24 the ship was retrieving Covenant exploratory fleets, this places the events of ''Halo: Shadow of Intent'' as taking place some time after August 24 at the earliest.}}, the ship became the target of a plot by [[Tem'Bhetek's faction]], intending to capture the carrier. The [[prelate]] led an [[Attack on Rahnelo]], with his Jiralhanae troops slaughtering civilians in the streets. The colony sent out a distress call, and three days later ''Shadow of Intent'' arrived at the scene to assist though were too late. The crew assisted the survivors in clearing the dead bodies, and ultimately took on the [[scion]] daughter of the [[keep]]'s [[kaidon]], [[Tul 'Juran]]. The scion proclaimed the [[right of release]] and requested the help of ''Shadow of Intent'' and its crew in hunting down the prelate to rescue her father. Tem'Bhetek later attacked [[Duraan]], allowing the colony to send a distress call to ensure that ''Shadow of Intent'' would hear it and respond. ''Shadow of Intent'' arrived at Duraan after three days of travel, in time to see the prelate's {{Pattern|Zanar|light cruiser}} ''[[Spear of Light]]'' opening fire on Duraan's largest settlement. This attack [[Ambush at Duraan|turned out to be a trap]], with the prelate intending to use the system's turbulent star and its solar flares to knock out the carrier's energy shields and disable it. The carrier attempted to fire a plasma cannon, only to discover that the prelate's trap meant that the energetic star neutralized the containment fields confining the plasma. With the carrier's shields down and weapons now requiring recharging, ''Spear of Light'' maneuvered to prepare a boarding action. The prelate and fifty Jiralhanae boarded the carrier via its port [[hangar]] bay, and proceeded to head for the command deck. The prelate engaged Rtas and Tul in melee combat, but was ultimately captured in the ship's brig.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

The carrier's crew took the data they could from ''Spear of Light'' after repelling the boarders, determining the location of the [[Prototype Halo installation]] from which the cruiser had been operating from. Unfortunately, all of the ship's forward plasma cannons and most pulse laser defenses had been taken down during the battle. The carrier travelled there, with only two [[Phantom]]s' worth of crew, and deployed the two dropships immediately upon entering the system. The carrier was left on autopilot, slaved to Rtas' Phantom. The prelate was able to escape and begin a spacewalk to the space station base, and eventually met up with the [[Boru'a'Neem|Minister of Preparation]], who informed the prelate of the full reality of their plan; their lone light cruiser would never be able to slip past the Sangheili defenses surrounding their homeworld, but ''Shadow of Intent'' was more than adequate. The group could mount the prototype Halo weapon onto the carrier and then fire it at Sanghelios, wiping out everyone on the homeworld. Upon realizing this scheme called for the prelate to die once his usefulness was over, he ceased his actions, and the Minister of Preparation was killed by Tul 'Juran and Rtas. The installation was then destroyed, ending the threat to ''Shadow of Intent''.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

''Shadow of Intent'' returned to Duraan to restock and repair for 10–20 days, before setting out on a mission to hunt down the [[San'Shyuum flotilla]] who had evacuated High Charity in 2552, to execute those who might try to continue the Prophet of Truth's schemes and rescue those who might be deemed innocent.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}} On April 22, [[2554]], the ship was rendered combat-ineffective after a battle with [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|forces]]. Up to November 6, [[2556]], ''Shadow of Intent'' was still used against both 'Mdama's Covenant and Jiralhanae forces.{{Ref/Site|Id=Catalog|URL=https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969311_Catalog-Interaction.aspx|Site=Halo Waypoint Forums|Page=Catalog Interaction|D=13|M=10|Y=2014|LocalArchive=Catalog/Archive/2014#Post #6}} Between May 6 and June 1, [[2557]], ''Shadow of Intent'' participated in naval exercises with the [[UNSC Navy]] in a [[Joint Occupation Zone]] against [[Piracy|pirates]], by which point her weapons and [[nanolaminate hull plating]] had been improved. Between June 1, 2557, and [[2558#March|March 3, 2558]], ''Shadow of Intent'' was tasked with the protection of Sanghelios and [[Sangheili colonies]] of the core world sphere. Around March 2558 three [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] [[prowler]]s tasked to monitor ''Shadow of Intent'' were destroyed. These losses were not reported to the UNSC Navy.{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} The ''Shadow of Intent'' has otherwise been involved with conducting diplomatic trips to remote colonies to grow support, eliminating marauders from resource worlds and pursuing San'Shyuum [[war criminal]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}

Sometime between 2553 and 2559, 'Vadum approved the addition of a blademaster's yard to the ship, similar in design to hunting preserves aboard {{Pattern|Mjern|agricultural support ship}}s, but incorporating technological elements from [[Spartan]] [[War Games|War Games simulations]], to facilitate combat training and contemplation. It had a garden at its center.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET45|ET|Chapter=45}}

====Dual threats====
In [[2559#November|November 2559]], the ship was still pursuing the San'Shyuum flotilla and was thus unable to help in the [[Battle of Netherop (2559)|Battle of Netherop]], something that [[Arbiter]] [[Thel 'Vadam]] lamented.{{Ref/Novel|Out|4}}

By that month, the ''Shadow of Intent'' had hunted down many of the ships of the San'Shyuum flotilla and brought the crews to justice. The ''Shadow of Intent'' engaged in an operation to capture [[Kafo Dein]], a high-ranking San'Shyuum survivor, but the operation ended with the death of Dein and the destruction of his ship.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=6}}{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=10}} However, a new threat arose in the form of [[Dovo Nesto]], a [[San'Shyuum]] [[High Lord]] and the near mythical leader of the [[Order of Restoration]] who sought to restore the [[Covenant]] empire, possessing the strategic acumen, connections and the history to make it happen unlike everyone else who had tried. Having manipulated [[War Chief]] [[Severan]] and [[Sali 'Nyon]] to his side, Nesto had significant support from both the [[Banished]] and [[Sali 'Nyon's Covenant]].{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET11|ET|Chapter=11}}{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=12}}{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=13}}

This led to a combined UNSC-Swords of Sanghelios task force -- the crew of the ''Shadow of Intent'' in particular -- working together to stop Nesto from excavating the [[Lithos]] on [[Boundary]] to seize control of the [[Domain]].{{Ref/Reuse|ET11}} In the midst of these events, [[Cortana]] met her end in the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]], leading to the deactivation of her [[Guardian Custode]]s.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=20}} Ultimately, the {{UNSCShip|Victory of Samothrace}} was forced to destroy the Lithos,{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=35}} causing significant casualties for both the Banished and the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET44|ET|Chapter=44}} However, while 'Nyon was killed by Severan after he realized that Nesto was using him,{{Ref/Novel|Id=ET40|ET|Chapter=40}} Swords of Sanghelios [[Blademaster]] [[Vul 'Soran]] betrayed his comrades.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=30}} 'Soran had been promised that the Sangheili would be restored to their former glory in the resurrected Covenant, believing that the Arbiter, the Swords of Sanghelios and the Banished were only a passing shadow while the Covenant stood unrivaled for millennia and would one day stand again with the Sangheili back in their rightful place.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=38}} As a result, 'Soran prevented Severan from killing Nesto, and helped Nesto to escape{{Ref/Reuse|ET40}} and take control of 'Nyon's forces to continue his efforts to rebuild the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=47}}

The ''Shadow of Intent'' was subsequently deployed to search for Nesto with [[Gray Team]] being deployed alongside the assault carrier to help expedite the search.{{Ref/Reuse|ET44}}

==Specifications==
===Superstructure and hull===
[[File:HWF Shadow of Intent.jpg|thumb|left|A cutaway of the carrier.]]
While the basic silhouette is similar to most other assault carriers, with a hooked prowl, immense hangar segment and a thick neck section connecting them, the ''Shadow of Intent'' does have a few differences. The most readily-noticed is its smoother hull which lacks the characteristic city-structures, and its distinctive rear cowling. These identify it as a rare ''Kerel''-pattern assault carrier, a [[Prophet]]-approved variant of the more common [[CAS-class assault carrier#Syfon-pattern|''Syfon''-pattern]]. The ''Shadow of Intent''{{'}}s ancient hull is pockmarked by scars and marks that tell of battles won and trials overcome through its centuries of service. The ship's armour plating is still damaged, bearing the marks of human [[nuclear weapon]]s, the weaponry of [[GA-TL1 Longsword|Longsword]] fighters and hastily patched sections where [[Magnetic Accelerator Cannon|MAC]] rounds pierced the ship. The ship also retains battle scars of Covenant loyalist-fired plasma torpedoes from the Great Schism.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}} One particularly close call during the blockade of High Charity left a bubbled streak on the starboard side of the carrier's prow.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

The bridge is located in an armored command pod in the center of the carrier's neck, with the Blademaster's yard running along the outermost sides. This uses a mix of ancient ritual education with the latest [[War Games]] technology acquired from the UNSC to train the next generation of [[swordmaster]]s. At the aft is an elaborate shrine to the Forerunners known as the Nave of the Creators, which is kept in perfect condition thanks to the crewmembers who have not given up their [[Covenant religion|old beliefs]]. The damage to the warship's interior compartments attained from the Great Schism has still not been completely repaired, with the deeper crew compartments hastily sealed off, ruined hallways and collapsed chambers filled with damage-control foam and entombed corpses.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}

Like most Covenant ships, the ''Shadow of Intent'' is primarily armored with [[nanolaminate hull plating]]. During the [[Post-Covenant War conflicts|post-war era]], however, this has been supplemented with [[runic plating]] installed by the Arbiter's [[Huragok]] during repairs. This advanced plating uses lattices of Forerunner composites interwoven with mysterious energy conduits.

===Armament and systems===
''Shadow of Intent'' is incredibly heavily armed, boasting a single ''Infernus''-pattern superheavy [[energy projector|excavation beam]] as a primary armament, two ''Urpeon''-pattern superheavy [[plasma lance]]s, eight ''Luxor''-pattern heavy [[plasma beam emitter]]s, twenty-four ''Mictix''-pattern heavy plasma torpedo silos as a tertiary armament and seven hundred ''Ferriel''-pattern [[pulse laser]]s as a quaternary point defense network.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Seven of the ''Mictix''-pattern heavy [[plasma cannon]]s{{Ref/Note|''Halo: Shadow of Intent'' names these weapons as plasma cannons, but later describes a plasma torpedo being fired from one. Given the stated weaponry listed in ''Warfleet'', the ''Mictix''-pattern plasma torpedoes are the only plasma weaponry numerous enough to be arrayed in this manner.}} line the prow of the ship in the depression that runs port to starboard. These weapons can fire individually or combine their energy into a single devastating mass. However, the ship's shields must be lowered to fire any weaponry.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

''Shadow of Intent'' is fitted with a cluster of intelligent circuits capable of calculating a given spacecraft's speed, trajectory and other flight characteristics, though this computational matrix is primitive when compared to the [[Smart AI]] [[ship director]]s that often run [[UNSC starship]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}}

===Complement===
In its role as a carrier, the ''Shadow of Intent'' is capable of carrying sixty-four [[Seraph]] and 192 {{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}} [[Space fighter|strikecraft]], twenty {{Pattern|R'sisho|Tick}} boarding craft, 44 [[Phantom]] [[dropship]]s, eight {{Pattern|R'shwupa|Phantom}} assault ships, three [[Scarab]]s, six hundred [[Banshee]] aircraft, 196 [[Wraith]] tanks, 44 [[Shadow]] troop transports, seven hundred [[Ghost]] scout craft and 250 [[drop pod]]s. The ship hosts 40,000 ground troops.{{Ref/Reuse|Warfleet}}

==Crew==
As of 2553, ''Shadow of Intent'' had fewer than two hundred Sangheili (and one Unggoy) as part of its crew,{{Ref/Reuse|SOI}} compared to its total complement capacity of 40,000. By 2559, the ship's crew number had greatly increased, which included numerous Sangheili and Unggoy, and the Spartans of [[Gray Team]].{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=10}}{{Ref/Novel|ET|Chapter=44}}
*[[Shipmaster]] [[Rtas 'Vadum]]
*[[Ranger]] commander [[Stolt]]
*[[Blademaster]] [[Vul 'Soran]] {{c|formerly}}
*[[Oda 'Mavamu]] {{c|formerly}}
*[[Tul 'Juran]]
*[[Jai-006]]
*[[Adriana-111]]
*[[Michael-120]]

==Production notes==
{{Other languages
|es={{Tooltip|''Sombra de Intención''|Shadow of Intent}} in ''Halo 3''.
}}
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
*''Shadow of Intent'' is the subject of a [[Halo: Shadow of Intent|novella of the same name]] by [[Joseph Staten]].
*The [[bridge]]'s holotable features the ''[[Marathon]]'' logo.
*A [[Secret Room On The Ark|secret room]] on the level "[[The Ark]]" is actually ''Shadow of Intent''{{'}}s bridge.
*The American deathcore band ''[[Wikipedia:Shadow of Intent|Shadow of Intent]]'' pays homage to both this ship, and the ''Halo'' series with their band name. The band's first two studio albums, Primordial and Reclaimer, were named after the being known as the [[Primordial]] and the [[Forerunner]] term, respectively. Many of the song names and lyrics from these two albums reference [[The Forerunner Saga]] of novels.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3-SOSUNSC.png|Humans and Sangheili aboard the ''Shadow of Intent'' in ''[[Halo 3]]''.
File:H3 - Retribution - Ark.png|''Shadow of Intent'' leads the [[Fleet of Retribution]] into battle against the Covenant above [[Installation 00]]. 
File:Shadow of Intent.png|''Shadow of Intent''{{'}}s profile.
File:H3-ShadowOfIntent-RightAngle.png|A cutout of the ''Shadow of Intent''.
File:H3 Shadow of Intent.jpg|''Shadow of Intent'' preparing to assault the Citadel's shields.
File:Floodgate3.jpg|''Shadow of Intent'' en route to the Ark.
File:Ark Secret Room4.jpg|The ship's command center.
File:Shadow of Intent bridge.jpg|General view of the bridge.
File:Ark Secret Room2.jpg|Top-down view of the ship's bridge.
File:Ark Secret Room3.jpg|Another section of the bridge, showing the ship's interior architecture.
File:Floodgate - Cutscene.jpg|Sangheili and humans gathered on the bridge.
File:Soiark.jpg|[[John-117]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]] fly over ''Shadow of Intent'' as the ship evacuates the Ark.
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==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 3]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]'' {{Im}}
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Empty Throne]]''

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

[[Category:CAS-class assault carriers]]
[[Category:Covenant ships]]
[[Category:Swords of Sanghelios ships]]